This is a crucial condition for establishing a strong military-civilian relationship, which is essential to protecting the country’s national sovereignty.

Where there are people, there are border guards

As usual, every month, Major Giàng A Chớ, the Head of the Public Mobilization Team at the Si Pha Phìn Border Post, and his colleagues visit and provide rice to families in special difficulty in the two communes of Si Pa Phìn and Chà Nưa in Nậm Pồ district. Stationed in a remote area with economic conditions still challenging, the border guards understand the hardships of the local people and, annually, the border post collaborates with local authorities to review the list of households facing food insecurity to provide assistance through the “Soldiers’ rice jar” program. On average, each household receives 20kg of rice per month.

Every time the border guards visit, Giàng Thị Sua from Nậm Đích hamlet in Chà Nưa commune warmly welcomes them like her family members. Overwhelmed by the practical assistance, Mrs. Sua expressed her gratitude by shaking hands with the soldiers and repeatedly thanking them. With her husband having gone aboard and disappeared without a trace, she has singlehandedly raised her eight children for over seven years. As a woman with limited health and no stable job, they often go without meals.

“Since the border guards have supported us with rice, my children no longer go hungry. I also feel less burdened. The soldiers have also helped ensure my children can go to school, helped with farming, and repaired our house... Whenever we need them, the soldiers are always there. We are very grateful to them,” Sua said emotionally.

In Si Pa Phìn and many other border areas, local border guards have long been considered part of every family. Therefore, when there is an issue, residents always seek help from the soldiers, and they are always present at festive events. “The bond between the military and the people grows stronger each day. The locals respect the border guards so much. They call us whenever needed. That is why we must always keep our promises - if we make a promise, we must fulfill it to earn their trust," Major Giàng A Chớ shared.

For years, Captain Vàng A Bia, Head of the Public Mobilization Team at the Tây Trang International Border Post, has regularly visited local homes to understand their situations and encourage compliance with border trading regulations. By working closely with border guards, he has helped patrol, protect the border, and secure the boundary markers. His guiding principles in public mobilization - “Respect the people, stay close to them, understand them, learn from them, and be responsible for them” - have made a significant impact.

Following the principle of “where there are people, there are border guards,” Điện Biên’s border guard force has been deeply embedded in local communities, playing a pivotal role in military-civilian cooperation. Activities such as “eating together, living together, working together, and speaking local languages” have become standard practice. The provincial Border Guard Command has coordinated with the Party Committees of the four border districts of Điện Biên, Mường Chà, Mường Nhé, and Nậm Pồ to assign border guards to help strengthen local political foundations and promote social-economic development in border communes.

Border guards have become deeply involved in local governance: Four border post commanders are part of the Executive Boards of the Party Committees of the four border districts above, 29 border officers hold deputy Party Secretary roles in 29 border communes, and eight officers are part of the People’s Councils of the border districts and communes for the 2021-2026 term. Additionally, 83 border guard party members actively participate in village-level committees, while 430 other members oversee more than 1,600 households. Thousands of officers and soldiers conduct regular missions to propagate legal awareness, assist the local population in economic development, and help them recover from natural disasters.

Building a firm whole people’s border defense posture

In Pa Thơm commune (Điện Biên district), five border markers (from markers 107 to 111) are located in rugged terrain with difficult access. For many years, however, local people, including the Lào, Khơ Mú, and Cống ethnic minority groups, have regularly visited these markers. Not only do the members of self-managed groups participate in patrols to protect the border, but many other families also actively ensure the preservation of the land passed down by their ancestors. A number of families here cultivate near the border, and they consistently remind each other to cultivate only their designated land without encroaching on neighboring areas. When working on the fields, locals make sure to clean the border markers.

“We are always supported and guided by the border guards to raise awareness about protecting our borders. We truly value their support. In our village, we encourage one another to avoid illegal border crossings, and if we notice people from the other side encroaching on our land, we immediately report it to the border post for resolution,” said Lò Văn Nhúng, head of Pa Xa Lào village in Pa Thơm commune.

For years, the provincial Border Guard Command has embraced the Party’s guidelines, State’s laws, policies, and directives while playing a central role alongside local authorities in building and reinforcing the whole people’s border defense posture within national defense and people’s security.

Senior Colonel Lê Đức Nghĩa, Deputy Political Commissar of the Điện Biên provincial Border Guard Command, stated: “In implementing Directive 01/CT-TTg from the Prime Minister, we have identified the border guard force as the core force to raise public awareness about national border management and sovereignty protection, encouraging the entire population to get involved in ensuring border security and law enforcement.”

Moreover, the implementation of Directive 01/CT-TTg is tied to the execution of Directive 09-CT/TW from the Central Committee and Conclusion 44-KL/TW from the Politburo, both aimed at enhancing the Party’s leadership in the “All people protect the Homeland security” movement in the new situation. These efforts have resulted in thousands of individuals, households, and communities actively participating in managing the border, protecting national landmarks, and maintaining order in border areas.

Currently, the province has 81 collectives, nearly 3,400 households, and over 4,400 individuals committed to self-managing 408.616 kilometers of border, 146 border markers, and 302 groups of 1,682 members dedicated to maintaining order in border security. Together, with the cooperation of the border guards, police, and military, these groups have conducted 1,520 patrols, leading to the timely resolution of security issues based on nearly 2,500 reports.